Acupuncture in the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Research Progress in Clinical Trials

Background center dot Acupuncture, a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modality, shows promise as an integrative therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) due to the chronic nature of the disease and its persistent symptoms. Many patients turn to CAM for ALS treatment. Objective center dot This review assesses acupuncture's efficacy in treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Methods center dot We searched China National Knowledge Network (CNKI) and PubMed databases for Chinese and English articles, including clinical trials, case studies, cohorts, and randomized controlled trials. The search, performed on March 31, 2023, encompassed literature published up to that date. Keywords used in titles and abstracts were (acupuncture) OR (electro-acupuncture)) AND (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Results center dot Among the 45 articles studied, 34 were included in this research. Acupuncture's benefits primarily lie in neuroimmune system regulation, enhanced quality of life, reduced fatigue, disease progression delay, and fewer relapses. Conclusions center dot Recent clinical trials highlight the potential of traditional Chinese acupuncture in improving Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis symptoms (e.g., fatigue, neural functional deficits) and curtailing relapses. Consequently, acupuncture holds promise as an integrative therapy for ALS patients.